Garden-tractor



Patentd Oct. 11, 1921.

y L. 1. WARNER. l GARDEN TRACTOR.

. APPLICATION FILED MAY 7, 1919.

DRENTHE L. J. WARNER.

GARDEN TBACTOR. APPLICATION FILED MAY?. Isls.

42 I 42 I I um; Ill

INYENT DE 2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

UNITED STATES LEROY JOSEPH WARNER,OF TOLEDO, OHIO.

GARDEN-TRACTOR.

.Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Oct'. 11 19271.

Application `1ed May 7, 1919. Serial No. 295,445.

To all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that I, LEROY JOSEPH WARNER, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of Toledo, in the county of Lucas and State of Ohio, have invented a certain new and useful Garden-Tractor; and I do hereby declare the following t0 be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art -to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to garden tractors, and has for its primary objectthe provision of a simple improved and highly eflicient device of this character which is narrow in form and provided with a single centrally located bull-wheel, thereby adapting it for use between rows of plants. A further object of the invention is the provision of a simple and efficient control means for the caster or steering wheel. A furtherobject of the invention is the provision of a detachable guard apron for the machine which effects a spreading of the leaves and yvines of vegetables or the like and prevents them from falling under the wheels as the machine traverses a row. Further objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following detailed de scription thereof.

`While the invention in its broader aspect is capable of embodiment in Ynumerous forms, a preferred embodiment 'thereof is illustrated in the `accompanying drawings, in which,-

Figure 1 is a plan view of an apparatus embodying the invention with parts broken away and with the guard `apron removed. Fig. 2 isa side elevation of the apparatus with paits broken away. Fig. 3 is a rear, end elevation thereof. Fig. 4 is atop plan view of the kguard apron removed from the machine, and Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view 'of the machine frame and apron attached thereto.

Referring to the drawings, 1 designates the tractor frame, which is of narrow rectangular form to adapt it to pass between 'rows of plants. This frame issupported by a single bull or tractor wheel 2, which is mounted between the frame Asides en a cross shaft or yaxle 3 carrying the respective lframe sides at its ends. AThe front end of l the frame 1 is supported by a caster-wheel 4, the fork 5 of which is attached for horizontal turning movements to the under side of the front end bar 6 of the frame. This wheel alines with the bull wheel and preferably has its periphery of broad or drum lform and provided circumfereiitiall around its central portion with a flange which assists in directing the course ofthe machine when turning and also tends to steady the machine against laterally swinging movements. The main weight of the machine is in advance of the bull wheel axle 3.

The frame is provided at its rear end with a pair of forwardly and rearwardly 'projecting control handles 8' and 9,' the latter of which, in the present instance, is carried for rotary movements about its longitudinal axis by a bearing arm 10, projecting from the frame end. The forward end of the handle 9 has bevel-gear connection 11 with a short shaft 12 journaled vertically in the adjacent frame end, and this shaft is provided at its lower end with a sprocket wheel 13. An endless sprocket chain 14 'ex-4 portion of the caster wheel 5, so that a turning of the handle 9 will impart 'steering movement to the caster-wheel. j

A motor 19, in the present instance, of the internal combustion type, is mountedon-the forward end of the frame 1 and has its crank-shaft 20 extending lengthwise ofthe frame centrally thereof and provided at its rear end a short distance to the rear of the motor with a fixed friction clutchv member '21. The other 'member 22 of this clutch is 'carried for axial shifting movements by a shaft section axially alined with the shaft 20 and having aworm 23 in mesh with -a worm wheel 24C carried bya counter shaft 25 journaled at its ends in the frame sides. A coiledspring 26 on the worm shaft acts on the vclutch member 22 to normally hold it engaged with its companion. A shift lever '27 is pivoted at its outer end to the frame 1 andv has its inner end engaged lto the clutch member 22. A draft member 28 Lextends rearwardly from the ylever 27 Ato la control llever 29 V'fulcrumef'l von la shaft or bar 30 connecting the liandlef 'and arm 1'0,

a sprocket chain 32 to a large sprocket wheel" 33 `on a side of the bull wheel 2'.

The sprocket wheel 3l is .releasably connected to the shaft by a shiftable clutch member V34 the movements of which are controlledl by a lever 35,` It is thus evident that the clutch 21,-22 may be released to stop a driving of the worm 2,3V and a consequent driving of the counter shaft 25 and that the clutch 34: may

be released from fthe sprocket wheel 31 to permita free turning rof the bull wheel. The

Yforward end of the motor shaft 20 is provided with a pulley 36 tojenablethe motor ato .be belted to any device to be'driven thereby when itis desired tov use the tractor in the. manner of a stationary engine. When the tractor isisoI used, the clutch 21,-22 is released.` Y

`The tractory frame at its rear end is pro- 2 vided with a cross-barv 37, whichpreferably extends at its ends beyond the sides of the frame tov enable one or more plowslor gangs ofcultivator shovels or other soil working istl .meansuto be attached tlieretofor vertical pivotal movements, such means being attached tothe central portion, or to either Vend of the cross bar, or to all three portions thereof as may be desired for the nature of the work to f'be performed. Iny the present instance, a trailer frame 38 having a gang ,of ,cultivator' plates 39 attached thereto is 'secured to the centralportion of the crossb ar. The raisingV and lowering movements of the frame 38 are controlled by a` lever 10, `which is carried ,by the cross-bar, 30 and has `its lower-endconnected by a chain ilv to the arms of the frame38. y

In som-ecases, such for instance as when the tractoris operating on a'hill side or is beingused as a stationary power apparatus, it is desirable to provide means forbracing Vthe tractorV against lateral tipping Imovei ments. f This is accomplished, in the present instance,V byv providing side `supporting wheels 42at the outer 'endsof a pairof cross bars a3, which have their inner ends adjustably projecting inV opposite directions one over the other through guide' members 44 mounted on the tops of, the respective side bars ofthe frame l.l Thesebars are of ang1e-iron form to Aprovidey strength and. also to adapt oneto nest in theother, and they `are secured in adjust-edy position by. set-V scre'wsfl projecting through vthe guides 4A. If desired, either vor bothrof these supporting wheels `and bars may Avbe entirely ,re-

movedV from :the machine.

The guard apron lor skirt .46 of itheima- `chine Ais of UfforIn-'Withpits looped portion disposed in advance of the caster-wheel 4 in guarding relation thereto and being of a forni to adapt it to effect a dividing and lateral separating of the leaves or vines of plants which may have fallen over in the path of the machine. The leg portions of the apron extend rearwardly to the rear of the bull-wheel 2 at each side thereof Aand have their upper edges provided with lateral flanges 47 whichare perforated to adapt them to be bolted to the lower edges or .flanges ofthe sidebars of the frame l', said bars being preferably of channel-iron as shown in Figp. 1. The apron 46 extends from the frame l to near theV ground line.

wishit understood that my invention is not limited to any specific construction, ar-

rangement or form of the parts as it Vis capable of numerous modificationsand changes without departing from the spirit of the j claims.

l-iaving thus described my invention, what I claimas'new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is- Y l. in a machine of the class described, a frame, a single bull-wheeldisposed between the sides thereof, means on the frame'for driving said bull-wheel, a caster-wheel supportingV the forward end of said frame vand having a steering arin projecting from its forlrl head longitudinally of the frame', con trol handlesat the rear of said frame one "of said handles being'mounted for turning movements, and connection between the movable handle and said steering arm forcom- `municating a turning movement to the latter vfrom a turning of said handle.

2. In a machine of the class described, a frame, jtractor means mounted within' and carrying the frame, a caster wheel supporting vthe front endof` the frame, a pair of control one of said `handles and caster wheel op erable to impart steering movements to the casterwheelfrom a movement of the handle relative totheframe'.

3. ln a machineof the class described, a

:the frame and rotatable relative thereto, and

lmeans lconnecting said handle and caster,

wheel tof impartV steering movements to the 4. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a bull-wheel carrying said frame, ya

caster-wheel supporting the forward end of,

said frame and having a circumferentially extending'peripheraliange, a pair of c011- j trol handles projecting rearwardly from said frame, one of said handles being mounted ioo Vframe, a single bull-wheel mountedtherein Y y,and carrying the fra-ine, a caster-wheel supporting the front end of the frame, aside v'supporting wheel lcarried by the frame, a control-handle projecting rearwardly from forturning'movements at its aXis, and means connecting said movable 'handle and caster-v iso Wheel to impart steering movements to the latter from a turning of the former.

5. In a machine of the class described, a frame, a bull-wheel mounted within and Supporting said frame, a circumferentially flanged caster wheel supporting the forward end of the frame, manually controlled means mounted on the forward end of the frame for driving said bull-wheel and assisting by 10 its Weight to hold the flange of the caster wheel in the soil, a rotatable control handle projecting rearwardly from the frame, a shaft mounted vertically in the frame, and connections between the Control handle and shaft and between the shaft and easter 15 wheel to impart a steering movement to the wheel from a turning of the handle.

In testimony whereof have hereunto signed my name to this specification.

LEBY JOSEPH WARNER. 

